People shift Arfa’s coffin from Cavalry Ground in Lahore. Her body was then shifted to Faisalabad, her native town, for burial. PHOTO: PPI

FAISALABAD: Arfa Karim, the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional, was laid to rest in her ancestral village Ramdewali, near Faisalabad, amid tears from family, friends and strangers.

Even the heavens opened, as a light drizzle fell during the funeral procession.

The flag-draped coffin had been taken to Faisalabad from Lahore, where, despite the cold, a large number of people from all walks of life gathered to mourn. The turnout was reflective of how Arfa’s story has brought the nation together in grief for her death and admiration for her brilliance, as it included IT students, public representatives, social and religious activists, NGO workers, military officers and government officials.

Hundreds of female students also thronged the funeral on the arrival of the dead body.

Qari Ashraf, who led the funeral prayer, said that “Arfa was not only extraordinarily brilliant in Information Technology but was also very fond of Hamd, Naat and Allama Iqbal’s poetry.”

Arfa’s father, Colonel (Retd) Amjad Karim Randhawa, told the media his daughter “was a gift of God to me and now He has taken it back.”

“I am proud of being the only person in the world whose daughter was recognised as the youngest Microsoft professional certificate holder at the age of just nine years,” he said. “We provided every possible opportunity and encouragement to develop her abilities.”

Describing his daughter as wise beyond her years, Randhawa lamented that “we could not see her genius flourish.”

Recalling Arfa’s meeting with Bill Gates, Randhawa said that the Microsoft founder was stunned to see Arfa promptly answering all his technical questions. Gates acknowledged Arfa’s qualities and his company contacted her family when she was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Lahore for treatment.

“Microsoft’s doctors were in touch with the CMH doctors and provided assistance in diagnosis, prescriptions and treatment for Arfa,” Randhawa said.

Randhawa fondly highlighted his daughter’s qualities, saying that she always had positive approach towards everything. “She had a creative mind and always wanted to do something extraordinary far beyond her age,” he said. “Arfa always surprised her teachers and class fellows with her intelligence and thought-provoking questions.”

A local resident of the village, Noor Din, said that although Arfa had not spent much time in the area, she lived as if she had been here for a very long time. “My daughter had always desired and insisted upon meeting Arfa, but sadly I failed to do so and now I can never do it,” he said.

Another villager, Ghulam Qadir, admitted that he had never seen such a huge funeral procession.

Muhammad Akram, a close relative, said that Arfa always wanted the area’s IT lab to be upgraded so it could provide better educational facilities to local youngsters, especially girls.

Asking the government to honour the IT genius’ wishes, Akram said that Arfa believed that other girls in her village should be given educational opportunities – as they had so much talent.

Arfa went into a coma on December 22 after suffering an epileptic attack. She was undergoing medical treatment in Combined Military Hospital. Karim, who was on life support at the Intensive Care Unit at the CMH suffered a complication on Saturday evening whereby she was shifted to surgery in emergency.

Meanwhile, at least one permanent monument to Arfa will stand.

Sindh Information Technology Minister Raza Haroon has announced that the IT Media City in Karachi will be renamed after Arfa. The project will now be known as Arfa Karim IT Media City, Karachi.

@Zeffos: Grow up …. even on news like this you are passing negative comments especially about a country which has produced the best in many fields in spite of many global gamers who are trying to destabilize us and also our own people who have self interests and think negative ……ARFA (May ALLAH Bless her) is an example out of many.

Al ham dulilah ..I happened to have the opportunity to say her Namaz e Jenaza….Having seen her coffin wrapped in the National flag was a feeling of pride …. and a feeling of BRIGHT future for ARFA’s Motherland……Pakistan. This is not an emotionally based statement it is based on logic and belief.

It is a very sad day for all of us.
She was a real genius no doubt and also she was a gift of GOD.
As an IT student I was her fan and also respected her and will be.
I have never seen her or talked to her but I always tought that one day i must met her and tell her that i am a big fan of her but now I can never do this.

arifa was the great source of inspiration to me .when arifa recognized herself as the micro soft certified youngest professional ,i was student of b.sc.i learnt many things from arifa i.e excellent confidence, great devotion and courage.i can,t forget the memories of arifa ,his provoking style for
new generation and his lovely talking style .now i am teacher and i feel that i have lost my asset
of arifa as the brilliant student of pakistanRecommend

Arifa Karim is a major loss for us, she is a role model for the youngsters i think she made a history by which we will encourage our next generation. may GOD Bless her and rest her soul in peace.. pray for her sorry but pray for the Daughter of Pakistan…..Salam-e-Akhir Dukhtar-e-Pakistan

“Arfa always surprised her teachers and class fellows with her intelligence and thought provoking arfa karim did not know, that her brain was under stress, it was her passion, she worked without rest and lost her life early,,her brain iq had gone very fast. and un cheked
human brain is very complex machine, it also need rest with intervals

I never explained how much I am sad and tears comes in my eyes as I hear her death news on Geo Tv. With tears I just Say She Was A gift Of God for her Family And Pakistan, May Allah Give Saber To her family, (Unbearable Shock) but pak Govt Nothing Do special For her, We Lost A great Daughter/sister of The nation.May Allah give Her place In Junnah(Ameem)Recommend

BIsmillha irakhma niraheem….
i just want to say god rest u in peace beti of pakistan u was a true gem and credit to pakistan…we ate proud of ur achievments at such a tender age truly remarkable genius…may ur legacy live on..and may god give subarh to ur loved ones…u will be missed rest in peace ameen..xxxx

Its a great grief for us and the entire nation feels the heart wrenching pain of her loss. Now the best way to honor her memory is to carry on her dream, her sense of passion for what she did and her love for technology.

Arifa karim was realy a precious diamond of pakistan & we r feeling vry vry vry sad that pakistan has lost this diamond. We will alwayz mis u preety Arifa..
May God bless her & give cool place in heaven..
(Aamin)Recommend

She is no more… :'(
Pakistan lost its precious Gift By Allah…
We lost our little princess and nt even nation is sad
But even sky is crying till now..,,
Now we can only pray for her…
May her soul rest in peace..!![]__AMEEN__[]

Arfa was a gift of God to her parents,but above all to Pakistan!!!!The country as a whole will always miss you DEAR ARFA!!!! You have left all of us in a state of deep sorrow……keep smiling as you always did in seventh heaven.

The parents have lost a part of them and the nation a part of its bright future. May Allah SWT grant Arfa the highest place in jannah and give strength to the parents to cope with this colossal loss. I pray that loss inspires many more in Pakistan to follow in Arfa’s footsteps so that future generations remember this little genius forever. (Ameen)

*may Allah peace be upon here and set her soul best in Jannat,may Allah give the power and ability to her parents to deal the situation with Sabr * she is an everlasting proud of the nation we all are with here parents.

just imagine how sky would be without stars so is this world without such stars? hats off to you Arfa karim…
Couldnt believe this sad demise for first few minutes as its very difficult to accept such changes in life:(
May her soul rest in peace

very very sad news for everyone. we need extraordinary people everywhere in the world. I hope Pakistan’s youth and parents will think of her as a role model and educate their daughters and sons. May Allah grant her highest place in heaven and give her parents patience to bear this great loss.

She was Brilliant IT student No doubt.May Allah rest her soul in peace.(Aameen).But sad,she was born in Pakistan, here is no future I.T lot youngest person work Govt.of Sindh Sector is no future I.T in Pakistan.e.g B.E MCS, M.Sc.BCS, BSc Computer Science. perfect evidence is Singh High Court Karachi. C.P. No.1846/2009. No Promotion No up-gradation.
I.T in Pakistan is Allah Hafaz.

I am very sad to hear this news that arfa is no more…… Writing these words with tears… I feel that my own daughter has passed away …may her soul rest in heaven(ameen)…i appeal the chief justice of pakistan jnab ch. Iftakhar to set up an inquirey commission for the cause of arfa’s death….she was a normal girl nd our governmint has done nothing for her disease…Recommend

Zeffos……we love our country and the present environment has been created by others to blow us up. We are the only Muslim country which is a neaclear power. We stand united and fall united. Arfa was a unique example wherein she was preparing a software for NASA upon their request. May Allah rest her soul in peace …….and simultaneously give yor strength to bear us.

Arfa Karim was pride of nation.She has passed but left a massage for youngsters of Pakistan
who to get success.She is symbol of success.
I am feeling proud to be Pakistani to apart the country of Arfa Karim.

Sindh Information Technology Minister Raza Haroon has announced that the IT Media City in Karachi will be renamed after Arfa. The project will now be known as Arfa Karim IT Media City, Karachi.
–>Nice to read this, May Almighty rest her soul in peace.

Dear IRFA KARIM
It is very painful to us that you have gone from this world. If you could see than you see that the people your country are very sad that you are not among us. there are many teers in my when i am looking your cute pictures.

matics,[email protected]
she was realy very sweet
but what ever Allah gave her,was enough………….
so in very little age,she done her all the work,which she could do in her further life……..
so frm this we got that she had completed her all the wors
NOW
she had need of rest………………………
GOD BLESS HER

she was a gifted child undoubtedly,i am still in a shock, if Arfa lives for some more years she must create another history like before…but alas…,above all,her innocence and the beauty of her face reflects the purity of her soul..may ALLAH rest her in heaven.ameen”.Arfa” look how much we have started loving u afer knowing u sweety.

Arfa Baita
You are an irrecoverable loss of an unlucky nation, you were the real pride of Pakistan and in fact you were the heart of Pakistan.
It is true that nice peoples depart early.
But your departure shocked & paralyzed the whole nation Arfa Baita.
We all will miss you forever Arfa baita.
You made us so proud and left us so early ……….
i am unable to write more…………………………………

Looking into my daughter’s eyes I read
Beneath the innocence of morning flesh
Concealed, hintings of death she does not heed.
Coldest of winds have blown this hair, and mesh
Of seaweed snarled these miniatures of hands;
The night’s slow poison, tolerant and bland,
Has moved her blood. Parched years that I have seen
That may be hers appear: foul, lingering
Death in certain war, the slim legs green.
Or, fed on hate, she relishes the sting
Of others’ agony; perhaps the cruel
Bride of a syphilitic or a fool.
These speculations sour in the sun.
I have no daughter. I desire none.

i believe that this girl was not mentally normal. no normal person can understand IT concepts at the age of 9 and then pass a high-level certification. someone must do some serious research.
why would a girl of 16 have such mental and heart complexities otherwise. She was not normal….i think being a knowledgeable scientific person.

Arifa, I did not know you but I feel like a piece of my heart has been taking and is missing. I wonder why the good ones go way before their time and the bad ones get to stay. After all the reading about you that I have done you were truly a gift from GOD. Your mom and dad I know are very proud. May GOD give them piece at this difficult time. I guess GOD needed you in HEAVEN for you to teach everyone but I know we will all be together again someday. May GOD bless you and your family. This is not only a big loss for your country Pakistan but also for the U. S. and all over the world to have lost a very beautiful and smart girl.

I realy miss arfa,I say that this is a big loss for pakistan.and I have abad luck that I was not meat her.we pray for her family.and we pray for her that god give him a place in heaven.and we loss a great blessings of god.

Arfa, you were 16 when you passed away but in such a short time on earth you made a name for yourself.
Allah Giveth and Allah Taketh away. I am happy that I came to know of you because

A lily of a day,
is fairer far in May,
Although it droop
and die that night,
It was the plant
and flower of light.
In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures, life may perfect be.

Ben Jonson’s words are apt here.

Rest in peace and may God grant your loved ones the strength to bear your passing away to a better world. Love………..always.